SiC sintered bodies with three-dimensional polycarbosilane as binder

Abstract

As is well known, silicon carbide is a practical heat-resisting material, because it has high strength and excellent oxidation, corrosion and thermal shock resistance. It is, however, difficult to obtain it as a sintered body because of its poor sintering characteristics. The usual method¹ for obtaining SiC with high flexural strength are to add a sintering promoter to fine SiC powder followed by hot pressing. The process is complicated and not suitable for obtaining large products. We here report the synthesis of high purity SiC mouldings with high mechanical strength by low temperature (1,000−1,400 °C) sintering of SiC powders bond with three-dimensional polycarbosilanes. The method is based on the conversion of an organosilicon polymer to the inorganic compound by heat treatment^2–5.